Finals day for maidens at Rangiora

By Mike Love

Woodend trainers Craig and Aimee Edmonds will have be dual threats in today's Anne Thompson Graduation Series Finals at Rangiora.

In the $22,000 Trotters' Final they line up Four Wise Women and A Fine Patrick.

Four Wise Women is unbeaten in her only two race day appearances to date, one of which was a heat of the series, and A Fine Patrick won another heat in his only run this preparation.

“They’ll both be very good chances,” said co-trainer Craig Edmonds.

Four Wise Women, who will be driven by Blair Orange, has been dominant in her victories to date. The three-year-old Majestic Son filly, who is a half sister to Five Wise Men and the talented Harriet Of Mot, has always impressed Edmonds and the camp is expecting a big run today.

“She seems pretty good. She’s come through those runs really well. She only qualified this time in, so she’s come a long way in a short time.”

“If she steps away good again, she's going to be tough to beat.”

A Fine Patrick, who is a three-year-old Father Patrick gelding out of Harriet Of Mot, won impressively fresh up and will be driven by John Dunn.

“He’s trained on really good. We had a few issues with his steering but we’ve sorted that out for now and he’s getting better and better.”

“He seems really well in himself.

“Four Wise Women will have a break after this, and A Fine Patrick will have a few more runs before he gets his break.”

Prior to the finals, Edmonds line up first starter Radha in race four, the Mike Brown Memorial Pace. The three-year-old Always B Miki gelding has been unbeaten in his previous two trials and there is some confidence going into today.

“He’s good. With no bad luck he shouldn’t be far away.”

“He’s quite a big gangly horse. Once he strengthens right up he could be pretty good going forward. But first up drawn the second row won’t be easy.”

Race seven will see the pacers final in what is shaping up to be a clash between the talented pair Chicago Bear for Cran and Chrissie Dalgety and the Brent and Tim White trained Clonakilty.

Racing commences from 11:25am.